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Kim's aggressive act was announced on the official state-run KCNA news agency and it is feared the deranged dictator could strike the first blow in what may turn out to be a deadly conflict.

The agency said: "The drill was conducted by limiting the firing range under the simulated conditions of making preemptive strikes at ports and airfields in the operational theatre in South Korea where the US imperialists nuclear war hardware is to be hurled.

"And it once again examined the operational features of the detonating devices of nuclear warheads mounted on the ballistic rockets at the designated altitude over the target area."

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Kim Jong-un celebrates 'successful' missile tests with his generals

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There are genuine fears that North Korea could launch deadly missiles and start a major conflict

The US military said it believed two of the missiles were Scuds and the other a Rodong – a home-grown missile based on Soviet-era Scud technology.

North Korea is believed to be developing nuclear warheads and attempting to miniaturise them to mount on ballistic missiles, but it is believed the secretive nation is a few years from achieving mastering the move.

The missile launches were seen as a show of force rather than a test to improve missile capabilities, a week after South Korea and the United States chose a site in the South to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system to counter threats from the North.

North Korea has threatened a "physical response" to the move.

China has objected to the decision saying it would destabilise the security balance in the region.

North Korea warns 'war could break out today'

Thu, April 4, 2013

North Korea has warned that it has authorised plans for nuclear strikes on targets in the United States.

The North's missile firing drew widespread condemnation, with South Korea stating it was in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions that ban the North's use of ballistic missile technology.

North Korea came under fire from the the latest UN Security Council in March after conducting its fourth nuclear test in January and launching a long-range rocket the next month.